Satellite ligand effects on magnetic exchange in dimers. A structural, magnetic and theoretical investigation of Cu2L2X4 (L = methylisothiazolinone and X = Cl-, Br-)

Halide-bridged polymers have gained significant interest due to their diverse properties and potential applications. Stacked Cu2L2X4 dimers, where L is an organic ligand and X can be Cl- or Br-, are of interest because a chloride analogue where L = 2-pyridone, had previously been reported to exhibit bulk ferromagnetism, which augured great potentiality for this class of compounds. The synthesis, structural characterization, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and computational studies of two isostructural CuClMI (MI = methylisothiazolinone) and CuBrMI polymers of Cu(ii), along with a related CuClPYR (PYR = 2-pyridone) is reported. CuClMI and CuBrMI were found to exhibit AFM bulk properties, due to FM/AFM alternating chains along the halide-bridged polymer axis, while FM bulk properties were confirmed for CuClPYR exhibiting a FM spin ladder. In combination with a benzamide analogue, CuClBA, three O-donor amides, CuClMI, CuClBA and CuClPYR were analyzed and revealed that the kinetic exchange is affected by the identity, but more importantly, the orientation of the satellite ligands. The torsional angle of the ligand with the dimer plane is shown to significantly affect the magnetic exchange in the dimer, and between dimers, explaining the reported FM bulk properties of CuClPYR. This finding is exceedingly important, as it suggests that a spin device can be constructed to flip between singlet/triplet states by manipulating the orientation of the satellite/terminal ligand.

Automated summary

Halide-bridged polymers have attracted significant attention for their diverse properties and potential applications. This study investigates two isostructural CuClMI and CuBrMI polymers, as well as a related CuClPYR polymer, and reveals their magnetic properties and the effect of ligand orientation on the magnetic exchange. The findings suggest the possibility of constructing a spin device that can switch between singlet and triplet states by manipulating the orientation of the satellite/terminal ligand.